The McMahon's -- In Rare Form -- And Roman Reigns Kick Off RAW
[Q1] This week's show kicks off with Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton welcoming us inside the sold out Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, followed by Vince McMahon's theme music hitting to a lively reaction from the Brooklyn fans.
McMahon talks about having dental surgery, alluding to injuries related to the Supeman Punch that Roman Reigns blasted him with two weeks ago. McMahon, in over-the-top "Mr. McMahon" fashion, than demanded, "Roman Reigns -- get out here right now!"
Reigns' music hit to a surprisingly enthusiastically positive reaction from the New York fans. As he made his way to the ring through the crowd, we see highlights of what has been going on with them lately, as well as a clip of Stephanie McMahon slapping the piss out of Tom Philips.
Vince said he couldn’t find the heart to congratulate Reigns on winning the championship, especially given what he did to Triple H. Vince said Hunter would extract revenge one of these days and Reigns probably wouldn’t see it coming.
The crowd chanted “We Can’t Hear You.” Reigns told Vince, “You better speak up, old man.” Vince mocked the idea that they could hear Reigns and not him, then said, “Oh, I forgot, we’re in Brooklyn.” Vince recalled Reigns turning his back on Stephanie McMahon last week and said nobody does that to a McMahon. Vince said he had to have dental surgery after Reigns punched him. Vince said the ring is his and he even owns the WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt.
Vince said sooner or later Reigns will come to the realization that he even owns Reigns himself. Reigns said that’s the problem with rich snobs like him. “I’m not a rich snob, I’m a billionaire,” Vince said while adding there’s a big difference. Funny. Reigns said he and his supporters own the title belt, not Vince, who then asked the fans if they think they own it. A “yes” chant broke out.
Vince questioned how long Reigns thinks he’ll be champion. The fans chanted “Daniel Bryan” and Vince told them to shut up. A C.M. Punk chant broke out, but Vince ignored it and brought up The Wild Samoans. “You’re just one generation away from a bone in your nose,” Vince said. He also boasted that he ran Afa into the ground and made money off him until there was nothing left. Vince said he used up Reigns’ dad Sika, and boasted that he paid him peanuts. Reigns shoved Vince to the mat. “My neck,” Vince said repeatedly. “Somebody help me, dammit, my neck.”
Stephanie McMahon’s music played and she came out and called for help. Policemen walked out behind Stephanie, who told them to arrest Reigns for putting his hands on Vince. She called Reigns a neanderthal and told the cops to arrest Reigns. “No,” one of the cops replied before saying they were there to do security only. Stephanie kept trying and then started mouthing off until the cop threatened to send her to jail if she didn’t take a step back.
“I’m better,” Vince said. The cop told Vince that Stephanie needs to stay calm or she would go to jail. Vince told the cop that he knows who he is. Vince started jawing and told the cop not to threaten his daughter. “You’re pissing me off right now,” Vince said. Vince grabbed the cop by his jacket. The officers in uniform entered the ring. Vince said he didn’t mean to do that. The main cop told the officers to take Vince away.
Backstage Segment: Mr. McMahon Taken Away In Cuffs During The Break
[Q2] Vince was handcuffed and read his rights while Reigns held the mic in front of the main cop. Stephanie pleaded with the cops to stop. Reigns was all smiles.
A “hero” video package aired with Roman Reigns, John Cena, Randy Orton, Alicia Fox, and The Bella Twins among those featured… A video recap of the opening segment aired. You know, for those who watched the football pre-game show and then turned over to Raw once the actual game started…
New footage aired of Vince being placed in the back of a squad car and driven away during the commercial break while Stephanie threw a fit and yelled “Dad!!!” one too many times… The broadcast team addressed the Vince arrest…
Kevin Owens vs. Neville
The fans chanted “Kevin Owens” as he stood in the ring. He did not get a televised entrance, but they did air Neville’s full entrance. Unfortunately, Neville is still carrying around his stupid Slammy Award. Owens went for his finisher, but Neville countered into a pin for the surprisingly quick win.
Winner: Neville
After The Match: Kevin Owens Snaps, Dean Ambrose Makes The Save
Owens flipped out after the match and threw Neville into the barricade at ringside. Owens also drove a split-legged Neville into the ring post and continued to throw punches at him until several referees talked him off. [C]
[Q3] The Owens attack continued after the break. The referees were helping Neville by the ramp when Owens clotheslined him and turned him inside out. Owens was setting up for a piledriver at ringside when Dean Ambrose made the save. Owens ran Ambrose into the ring post, but Ambrose came back with a clothesline. The referees held Ambrose back. Owens ended up leaving through the crowd.
The Rock's WrestleMania 32 Announcement
The announcers recapped the angle and then narrated highlights of John Cena guest hosting the “Today” show on Monday. They also hyped Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio as the Raw main event… [C] The broadcast team hyped The Rock announcing that he will “electrify” at WrestleMania 32.
Backstage: JoJo Interviews Becky Lynch
Footage is shown from last week's live Smackdown of Team B.A.D. pour egg nog on Becky Lynch and Charlotte getting a win over Brie Bella. Backstage, JoJo is with Becky Lynch noting that Charlotte said she wouldn't be here tonight. Lynch said she could be at a disadvantage tonight with Team B.A.D. being in Sasha's corner tonight. She talked about moving to New York City at a young age and she came here to stand out.
Sasha Banks (with Team B.A.D.) vs. Becky Lynch
Team B.A.D. is out next. Sasha Banks gets on the mic and says, "The boss is back in Brooklyn!" Banks brings up how Becky Lynch called this the best city ever. She puts on a Patriots hat and how it's clear Lynch has never been to Boston before. Loud boo's from the crowd. Naomi insults Brooklyn calling it overrated, overpopulated and "stank dump." [C]
[Q4] Cole addressed Banks’ match with Bayley that was held at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn and called it one of the highlights of her career (she lost). Lynch caught Banks in a leg hold. Naomi distracted the referee, and then Tamina pulled Sasha to the ropes. A short time later, Becky dove onto all three Team BAD members at ringside. [C]
After the break, Sasha was in control and the announcers were issuing a correction about where the Iron Woman match took place. A loud “boring” chant broke out as Sasha remained on the offensive.
[Q5] Sasha had Lynch on the ropes. She ran at her for a move, Lynch moved, and Sasha dove onto her own teammates at ringside and didn’t get much of a response. Some fans did count along as the referee counted until Sasha returned to the ring. A short time later, more Team Bad distractions led to some jockeying for position in the ring between the women, and it resulted in Lynch applying her Disarmer finisher only to have Sasha counter into a pin for the win while holding the tights.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Vince McMahon's Mugshot, Renee Young At Police Station
The broadcast team set up a comically bad Vince McMahon mugshot. Outside the police station, Renee Young and other “reporters” stood by. She said he was being rpocessed for resisting arrest and assault on an officer. She said Stephanie McMahon and attorney Jerry McDevitt (Vince’s real attorney) were both present. The broadcast team hyped a six-man tag match… New Day made their entrance. [C]
Kofi Kingston (with Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. Kalisto (with Sin Cara)
We are back live as Xavier Woods says hello to New York City. Woods brings up how in this very building they became the WWE World Tag Team Champions. Kofi Kingston talks about the New Day trombone making its debut. Big E brings up singing songs last time and he brings out his pitch pipe. Kingston asks if they want another song. Woods brings up how the WWE Universe didn't vote New Day as Tag Team of the Year so no one gets a song.
The bell rings to officially kick off the match. Kalisto works over the left arm of Kofi early. Kofi flips out and works over Kalisto's left arm dropping him to the mat. Kalisto with a dropkick on Kofi after a series of counters. Kalisto with chops, springobards off the corner and tosses Kofi with an arm darg. Kalisto into a headlock takedown on Kofi. Kofi with a big boot that drops Kalisto. We can hear Woods playing the trombone at ringside. Kofi off the top missing a stomp over Kalisto. Kalisto with a head scissors takedown. Springboard corkscrew cross body on Kofi. Kalisto drops Kofi face first off the mat off a huricanrana. Woods distractst he referee during a pinfall. Kalisto knocks Woods off. Big E catches Woods. Kalisto with a huricanrana into a cover and gets the pinfall on Kofi.
Winner: Kalisto
After The Match: Our Next Match Is Set Up
After the match, Xavier Woods at Sin Cara for cheating and how that sets a bad example for children. Woods takes off his shirt and says payback is a "bbbbbbb...Big E!" He said Big E will take on Sin Cara next. Big E starts smiling as we head to a break. [C]
Big E (with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Sin Cara (with Kalisto)
Different members of The New Day and The Lucha Dragons will be up next, as these two teams get back-to-back matches on RAW, something WWE recently did with The New Day and a different tag-team.
The match was joined in progress just as E was slapping Sin Cara on the side of his ass. Sin Cara was pulled off the ramp and onto the floor. E ran him back first into the ring. “What happened?” E asked sarcastically as trainers came out to check on Sin Cara. He eventually rolled back inside the ring as the announcers said he appeared to suffer a left shoulder injury. Big E set up Sin Cara in the tree of woe and charged at him, but Sin Cara sat up and E crashed into the post. Sin Cara took offensive control and eventually performed a rolling senton off the second rope.
[Q7] Kalisto prevented Woods from interfering, but Kingston took him out. A short time later, Big E performed his finisher and scored the pin. After the match, we see Sin Cara at ringside visibly favoring his left shoulder.
Winner: Big E
Miz TV "Year In Review Spectacular"
We are back live with The Miz for MizTV. It's the first annual Year in Review Spectacular. He talks about January 1, 2015 making his New Year's Resolution when Ryback's music hits.
Ryback has a mic in hand. "God you look stupid," says Ryback. He talks about having a big appetite, but even he's had his fill with MizTV and how the WWE Universe cares about the future. Ryback burps into the mic and says in 2016 it will be the year of the Big Guy.
Goldust is out next. He wonders if 2016 is the year The Miz wins a SAG award. Goldust disagrees. Maybe it's the year The Miz wins an Oscar? "Or is this the year The Miz wins some...Golden Globes." Stardust gets in Miz's face to creep him out.
Zack Ryder is in the house. He said Brooklyn is New Zack City. Ryder says 2016 will finally be the year of Zack Ryder. He leads a "WOO WOO WOO" chant. Miz said it's starting to get a little disrespectful out here. He continues with his year in review for 2015.
R-Truth is out next. "WWE Universe...what's up!?" He brings up how every Superstar on the roster is up for Superstar of the Year. Miz reminds him that the Slammy's were last week and that he actually won an award. Truth said he remembers now adding, "My bad."
Heath Slater cuts off Miz. He takes Truth's mic and has something to say "bay bay."
Big Show cuts off Slater and heads to the ring. Slater said no one cares what Big Show has to say and that it's "all about Heath Slater bay bay!" Big Show knocks out Slater and starts clearing house on everyone in the ring. Truth punches himself out. Big Show picks up Truth and gives him a chokeslam. Ryback is the only one left in the corner. A loud "FEED ME MORE" chant starts up. Ryback with clothesline charges. Big Show tosses Ryback out. The Brooklyn crowd starts a chant for Big Show to retire. Big Show disagrees and decides to announce himself as the #1 entrant into the Royal Rumble match. Then, he will go on to WrestleMania, win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and shove that up everyone's...Big Show drops the mic and says they aren't getting him in trouble.
Big Show vs. Ryback
We are back live and find out that Ryback challenged Big Show to a match during the break. Ryback with kicks to Big Show in the corner. Ryback comes off the top turnbuckle and Big Show with a big body shot to Ryback on the way down. Big Show levels Ryback with a quick shoulder block. Big Show with more body shots to Ryback. Big Show with a huge chop to Ryback in the corner. More body shots in the opposite corner. Ryback with a dropkick that sends Big Show flying back. Ryback drops the straps. Big Show rolls out. The referee starts the count. Big Show decides to leave. The referee reaches the 10 count.
Winner via count out: Ryback
Dean Ambrose & The Usos vs. Sheamus, Rusev & King Barrett
Ring entrances for the six-man tag match took place. The Uso Brothers had to carry their Slammy Awards to the ring too. Coachman hyped Titus O’Neil appearing as the guest on ESPN tomorrow night. Sheamus cut a promo on his way to the ring about how fans should be ashamed for cheering Vince McMahon’s arrest.
Lana did not accompany to ringside. Oh, and Sheamus dedicated the match to Vince McMahon. The babyface trio jumped out to a fast start. Rusev got the better of Jimmy Uso, who sold a left knee injury after being hip-tossed into a corner of the ring. Rusev worked over the knee heading into a break. [C]
Later, the fans chanted “Sheamus is boring” as he worked over Jimmy Uso, who then tagged in Ambrose as Sheamus tagged in Rusev. Ambrose dominated and performed his top rope elbow heading into the break. [C] Rusev slammed Ambrose coming out of the break, but then missed a splash off the second rope.
[Q10] In the end, Barrett distracted one of the Uso Brothers long enough for Sheamus to put his knees up when the Uso went for a top rope splash. Sheamus followed up with a Brogue Kick for the win…
Winners: Sheamus, Rusev & King Barrett
After The Match: Owens Attacks Ambrose
After the match, Owens ran through the crowd and attacked Ambrose by running him into the ring steps. Owens took the broadcast team’s table and the ring steps apart. Owens set a piece of the steps next to the table, then powerbombed Ambrose through it.
Renee Young's Update On Vince McMahon's Arrest
Cole hyped Cena vs. Del Rio for the main event… A shot of Renee Young outside the police department was shown. Cole said she would provide an update after the break… [C]
Back live, footage is shown from earlier tonight of Vince McMahon getting arrested. Renee Young is on the scene outside the police department in Brooklyn as we see Vince McMahon exiting with Stephanie McMahon. They get in a car and take off.
John Cena & Alberto Del Rio Promo Segment Before RAW Main Event
John Cena made his entrance to the usual “John Cena sucks” singalong from the Brooklyn crowd. Cole hyped that Cena will co-host “Today” again on Tuesday. Cena received a mixed reaction and said, “The sweet sounds of Monday Night Raw.” He said he’d like to be having an open challenge, but Alberto Del Rio is the U.S. Champion. Cena noted that Del Rio has never defended the title on Raw.
Cena sang the praises of his open challenge format. He said the kids liked it and the adults called him names, then pointed to a fan with an anti-Cena shirt in the crowd. Cena said the fans deserve a championship effort, but Del Rio won’t put the title on the line. He called it a disgrace and apologized.
Del Rio made his entrance along with Sheamus, Barrett, and Rusev. Del Rio said Brooklyn doesn’t deserve a U.S. Title match. Cena called him an idiot. Cena praised the crowd and said Del Rio is worried he’ll lose. Del Rio reminded him he beat him last time. Cena told Del Rio to put the title on the line. “Or are you just gonna be a little punk bitch?” Cena asked. Del Rio called him Juan Cena and said he would have a fight because he’s a fighter, but not for the title.
Cena said he knows what happens next. He said the League of Nations will interfere before the match even starts. Cena called him gutless and spineless and said he’s a one-hit wonder who gained a championship and lost his manhood. Cena threw his shirt to the crowd. They threw it back. Cena said they are in Brooklyn and said it was the home of Notorious BIG and said they are in Jay Z’s house. Del Rio said he’s the man who beat Cena for the title and he would send Cena home by himself for good. “You want a title match?” Del Rio asked. “You got it”… [C]
WWE Acknowledges The Passing Of Motorhead Frontman Lemmy Kilmister
[Q12] At ringside, the broadcast team addressed the death of Lemmy Kilmister and called him a longtime member of the WWE family. They aired still shots, played some of his Triple H song clips, and ran Tweets from various people regarding his death.
WWE United States Championship
John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio
Tony Chimel handled the in-ring introductions for the title match. Del Rio had the early advantage until he pulled his version of a Ric Flair top rope move (charging an opponent on the ropes, crashing and burning on the floor). They went to break with both men down. [C]
Cena got a near fall off a tornado DDT at 9:50. Both men were slow to get to their feet. Cena got up first and went for his finisher, but Del Rio countered into the Cross Arm Breaker. He pulled off one of Cena’s wristbands and tossed it aside. Cena got up and pulled up Del Rio and slammed him to the mat to break the hold.
[Overrun] Cena applied an STF and Del Rio tapped out, but the referee was down at ringside. Enter Sheamus and Rusev. Cena took a boot to the face from Rusev and then Sheamus woke up the referee as Del Rio covered Cena, who kicked out. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Cena avoided it and Sheamus kicked Rusev. Cena took out Sheamus. Del Rio caught Cena with the same finishing sequence he used at SummerSlam, but Cena kicked out this time. Del Rio went for the Cross Arm Breaker, but Cena avoided it and hit the Attitude Adjustment. Cena had Del Rio pinned, but Sheamus and Rusev hit the ring for the DQ finish.
Winner via disqualification: John Cena
After The Match: Vince McMahon Returns With Announcement For Next Week's RAW
Afterward, Sheamus put Cena down with a Brogue Kick. The Uso Brothers ran out and tried to help. They were quickly outnumbered. Reigns ran out and speared Rusev at ringside, then performed the Superman Punch. Reigns glared at Shemaus was standing on the opposite ring apron with a chair. Both men entered the ring. Sheamus took a Superman Punch, then Reigns struck him with a chair to the back and cleared him from the ring.
Vince McMahon’s music played and he walked onto the stage with a mic. Vince said he was going to sue the city of New York, and he’d sue all the fans if he could as well. Vince recalled questioning how long Reigns would be champion. He said he now has the answer. Vince announced Reigns vs. Sheamus in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match for the first Raw of 2016. Vince then named himself the special referee. Vince closed the show by saying “Happy New Year” ten times.
Report by Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net
